The Gaia Reports

By Theodora Filis "Industrial products developed with Teflon® fluoropolymer coatings, resins, additives, and films have exceptional resistance to high temperatures, chemical reaction, corrosion, and stress cracking. The properties of Teflon® make it the preferred solution for a host of industrial applications and different processing techniques.” DuPont Industries Before you buy that new Teflon-coated, non-stick pan, consider this: the EPA has taken action against DuPont (the maker of Teflon) for failing to warn the public of the associated health risks of Perfluorooctanoic Acid, or "PFOA," a synthetic chemical used in manufacturing fluoropolymers. Perfluorooctanoic Acid, used in some Teflon® products, isn't limited to just non-stick cookware. Products using Teflon range from water-resistant carpets to Gore-Tex jackets to lubricants and more. In fact, Teflon is so prevalent that PF0A has been found to contaminate 92% of US children tested to date, and most ...

By Theodora Filis Despite claims that their very expensive, patented, genetically modified (GM) seeds are the best thing since sliced bread, chemical seed giant Monsanto is fighting awfully hard to defeat California's Proposition 37 on November 6 – and paying millions of US dollars to do so. The biotech industry and Big Ag have already dumped $25 million into the pot - $4.2 million from Monsanto alone. Other major contributions against Proposition 37 were given by: E. I. Dupont de Nemours – $1,273,600 Dow Agrosciences – $1,184,800 PepsiCo – $1,126,079 "The giant pesticide and food companies are afraid of the mothers and grandmothers who want the right to know what's in our food," said Stacy Malkan, media director of California Right to Know. "These companies will try to buy the election, but it won't work. California moms and dads will prevail over Monsanto and Dupont." As of today, the "Big 6" pesticide c...

By Theodora Filis Monsanto is now cautioning UK consumers that, “Before you buy a potato or any other food, you may want to know whether it's the product of food biotechnology.” Monsanto's UK website proudly claims, “Monsanto fully supports UK food manufacturers and retailers in their introduction of these [GMO] labels. We believe you should be aware of all the facts before making a purchase.” ( http://www.monsanto.co.uk/highlights/ads/ad4.html ) Here's a question... Why push GMO labeling in the UK, then spend millions of dollars in the US fighting to keep foods manufactured with GMOs a secret? Here's one reason. Since GM corn, soy, sugar beets, and cotton (the oil part) are processed into sweeteners, fats, and other additives already in the US food chain, labeling GMO foods in the US would require nearly 80 percent of all non-organic processed foods sold in supermarkets. If the California initiative passes, it will likely force food processors to...

By Theodora Filis   Genetically modified (GM) maize is crop governments and local agencies love to promote as it promises the highest productivity increases. Seed and biotech companies, like Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, and Dow, profit greatly as farmers switch to GM seeds, and their demand for pesticides and fertilizers shoots up – ensuring two markets for these companies – herbicides and seeds. As the food crisis looms, the real danger for the nourishment, health, and culture of the world is whether to choose Monsanto's agenda over strengthening the world's agriculture. Consumer beware: Cultivation of GMOs will accelerate the loss of the world's food sovereignty and contaminate vital native strains of corn. Today, governments are trampling each other in their haste to get into large-scale public-private partnerships (PPPs), as public pressure builds to promote GM maize in the name of food security. (PPPs involve a contract between a public sector authority and a private...